Bad day to be a bird

On Wednesday night our lovely little Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep passed away. I know you probably didn't know that I had a budgie, but we have been looking after him for quite a few months now. We gave him a nice sunny spot on a special hanging pole, collected cuttlefish for him to nibble, gave him his first favourite- broccoli, and then at the end his new favourite radicchio. Yes he did have strange taste, but he was very cute and had the loudest chirps ever. This is how we got him really.
B found him and rescued him from the back yard of her childcare centre, but he was too chirpy for the kids. Too loud and distracting, especially during nap time. So B lovingly took him home as she had the blue tongue lizards, and chickens she passed on to us as well. But when it came time for B to move in with Pip he did not approve of Chirpy at all. He barked and growled and went crazy at his cage. So we got to get Chirpy after that.
He developed what we can only assume was a tumor on his shoulder, it just got bigger and bigger. So gross to look at, but you couldn't look away. I like to think that it just got so big that it blocked off his blood flow and he had a stroke. The nicest and most painless option. So RIP Chirpy, I was never too comfortable with the idea of keeping a bird in a cage, so now you are truly free.

Part two of this story takes place at my parents place. On the same night one of the chickens wouldn't go back into her house at the end of the day, and ended up becoming the foxes dinner. I don't think we will replace Chirpy, but on Monday it's off to a free range chicken farm to find a replacement or two- before Mum gets home from her holiday!

The Sculptor

http://diamond-valley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/multimedia-the-sculptor-eltham-legend-matcham-skipper/

This is my eccentric grandfather. His commissioned sculpture has just taken pride of place in a new section of the Eltham cemetery. The unveiling was a huge success and quite a family reunion. You couldn't help thinking, in that setting, it was a funeral for Matcham while he is still alive and able to enjoy it all. No one mentioned the trials and tribulations involved in getting the piece to where it is now, all the conflicts between everyone involved, the 'costume malfunctions', or how many times it very nearly didn't happen thanks to various parties. But now there it stands, nestled next to Montsalvat, overlooking all the past legends of Eltham in their final resting places.

What a lovely afternoon for it

Such a nice evening for a run through the neighbourhood. That's right I'm running. On day 33 of the 84 day challenge and going strong. Excercising every day, with all good food and no cakes, hardest of all is no cakes. But so far I'm doing pretty well, just ordered some extra supplements to help keep me running straight.

So, for the first time today it was actually nice weather and I had to fit in my fusion work out in the arvo. I'm not sure what I'll do when the sunshine really sets in, it was pretty warm in the home gym today, but out running on the street it was gorgeous. So many beautiful roses and I swear every second house must have a port wine magnolia in the yard, such sweet scents in the air. It would be a shame to join a gym to get out of the weather and have to miss out on that.

New Look

That's better. Just what I need to get a bit of inspiration to get back to the old blog. Thanks to the amazing Sheree Porter i have an amazing picture to use as a background. A gorgeous location of the Dandenong Ranges, blackened trunks of a bushfire past, and one chilly stilt lady. Hopefully many more adventures to come, as well as catching up on those of the past few months.

Valentines cheeseyness

Although I don't generally buy in to the whole Valentine's Day commercialism "business" it is nice to be made to feel special and to have the chance to spend a lovely day together. So today was wonderful.

We went in to the NGV to see the amazing Ron Mueck exhibition. It was so amazing and awe-inspiring. What puts the idea in to one's head? They look so real that as you stare at them you swear they are moving. From the initial impact of the smaller than life, dimly lit "Dead Dad" to the giant and dazzling "Wild Man". Every object just made you want to reach out and touch it. Even though all you would get would be a stern "No touching, please", I'm way too square to go to such lengths.

After a brief break for a yummy lunch and passing through the ACDC exhibition at the Arts Centre ,we then returned for a squiz at the rest of the collection, well mainly I wanted to go and see the 'Drape' exhibition. Oh how I love being a fabric nerd!

Lots of amazing fabrics from ancient greek statues to gowns made for Kylie, but my favourite was a Versace. So simple,yet effective, and sooooo well crafted.

Then, in the permanent International Collection, I sat spellbound by a video from Yinka Shonibare. A contemporary dance piece based on the assassination of the King Gustav III of Sweden, but all dressed in his stunning creations using the Dutch Wax Print.

Unfortunately I came to the fascination of these fabrics too late to see his exhibition, I think it was at the Ian Potter Centre, but my god just the pictures look amazing.

I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful boyfriend to spend the day with, and to be able to do it in such a beautiful city, full of inspiration.

Option 1

Here i something I think I like. Not exactly what I was thinking.........let me know what you think.

Blankety Blank

Well I've been inspired by the lovely Neen of nettle and brier to make my blog wonderfully fancy and nice to look at, but it is proving more difficult than I imagined. There is no end to the amount of free stuff-templates, backgrounds and buttons- that I can find, but it's hard to pick one that is perfect'. I think I like the more photoey look rather than scrapbooky, and I'm not particularly crafty, for a fabric nerd. So for now Welcome to Blandtown!

Thoroughly Thurra

After a long drive in the fully loaded ute, made longer by an unscheduled stop over

and taking on of a whole cars worth of gear in Warragul, I took Trent on his first ever trip to Thurra River.

After a first look at the rough and tumble beach there was much to be done.

There was fishing,

And cooking,

Goannas in the campsite,

And a walk to the sand dunes- the biggest in the southern hemisphere,

the sheer vertical drop down straight in to the river,

and then the walk back to camp down the river.

We also got in some great canoe time, both on Thurra and Mueller.

And then there was New Years Eve- a whole different kettle of fish.
The day before we all drew names out of a hat of other people from our camp and were assigned our characters for the big night.

It drew laughs, stares from onlookers, shock and awe, offense between friends, but mostly just laughs. And hopefully dismissed the impression we were some sort of christian youth camp, but maybe not.

Polly and Luke,




Eri and Monty- complete with the little Nugget in her belly.

Rob,

Heath,


Ad.





A perfect week of beach weather and gourmet food and beautiful friends. Thanks everyone!